CLEMSON -- The sciences, especially the biological sciences, will play a vital role in the state's future as biotechnology and bioengineering emerge as economic development drivers. Clemson University and three of South Carolina's historically black colleges -- Benedict, Claflin and Morris -- are working to encourage more minority students to pursue biological science careers.

Funded by a $1.8 million award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Biological Sciences Program, the collaborating colleges and universities will hold a colloquium April 5 at Benedict College to showcase the research work of minority students seeking science careers.

"This project provides money to help support undergraduate research," said Barbara Speziale, a Clemson associate dean and principal investigator administering the four-year Hughes award. "Last fall, when the award was made, faculty from these schools, plus Clemson, submitted requests to the SC LIFE program (the local name for the full award) for student research funding. There were two requests from Morris and Claflin, three from Benedict, and 27 from Clemson-- all were funded."

Students with funded projects are required to make presentations at the colloquium. Researchers will give 10-minute oral presentations followed by a group poster session.

Biology has been more successful than many other sciences in enrolling African-American, Hispanic and Native American students as undergraduates. Yet, the number of these students who major in biology remains comparatively low, according to Hughes data. Of the 52,314 bachelor's degrees awarded in biology in 1994, only 2,980 (5.7 percent) went to African-Americans, 2,901 (5.5 percent) to Hispanics and 248 (.5 percent) to Native Americans. The numbers of underrepresented minorities who major in biology have risen over the past decade, however, especially during the last few years.

Educators whose programs seek to attract minorities in biology say there is no magic formula for success. Experience shows that there are actions that can help produce results:

start early to motivate students toward science

provide support to help students feel a sense of belonging in the sciences

encourage students to help each other succeed

set standards high and offer support to reach them

pay competitive stipends for research assistants

respect social differences

realize success in building minority participation is a long-term effort.

Additional information on Howard Hughes Medical Institute's funding program is available at http://www.hhmi.org/.

SC Life materials are available for use only in non-profit educational activities. Any other uses, including activities involving fees for instruction and/or materials, must receive permission from the SC Life Project Director. Contact Ginger Foulk, SC Life Project Office, 132 Long Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, 864-656-4224, with questions about any of our SC Life materials or programs.